Feb. 05, 2019|China|126 Min.|TV-MA
Genre: Action;Drama;Science;Fiction
Description: “The Wandering Earth” is a 2019 Chinese science fiction film directed by Frant Gwo, inspired by Liu Cixin’s 2000 short story of the same name. The story revolves around humanity’s desperate attempt to save Earth by moving it away from an expanding Sun. The film features a star-studded cast, including Qu Chuxiao, Li Guangjie, Ng Man-tat, Zhao Jinmai, Wu Jing, and Qu Jingjing. Set in a distant future, the plot follows astronauts and rescue workers as they navigate Earth away from the Sun while trying to avoid a catastrophic collision with Jupiter. Released in China on February 5, 2019, during the Chinese New Year, the film was distributed by China Film Group Corporation.
“The Wandering Earth” became a global box office success, earning $701 million worldwide. It ranks as China’s fifth highest-grossing film of all time and the fifth highest-grossing non-English film to date. Critics praised the film, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it “China’s first full-scale interstellar spectacular.” Netflix secured the global streaming rights, making the film available outside China starting April 30, 2019. A prequel, “The Wandering Earth 2,” was released in January 2023.
The story unfolds in 2058 when humanity discovers the Sun is expanding into a red giant, posing an imminent threat to Earth. In response, nations unite under a global government and build 12,000 massive fusion-powered “Earth Engines” to propel the planet out of the Solar System. Before embarking on a mission aboard the Navigation Platform International Space Station, astronaut Liu Peiqiang entrusts his son, Liu Qi, to his grandfather, Han Zi’ang. As Earth’s rotation is halted and it is thrust from its orbit, most of the population is relocated to underground cities, while billions perish in the resulting catastrophes. The surface becomes uninhabitable, with temperatures dropping below −70 °C (−94 °F).
Seventeen years later, in 2075, Liu Peiqiang prepares to return to Earth. Meanwhile, Liu Qi, now an adult, obtains counterfeit IDs and thermal suits with the help of criminal groups. Using his grandfather’s clearance pass, he takes his foster sister, Han Duoduo, to the surface in a heavy transport vehicle, setting the stage for their perilous journey.
Cast director: Frant Gwo
Cast actor: Qu Chuxiao, Li Guangjie, Zhao Jinmai, Wu Jing, Ng Man-tat, Michael Kai Sui, Qu Jingjing, Zhang Yichi, Haoyu Yang, Arkady Sharogradsky
Original name: 流浪地球